Eligibility
Participation in four semesters of middle school music program and performed in three concerts.
Received a grade of "A" in music/ensemble course for three of these semesters.
Honor Ensembles and/or Solo and Ensemble Festival Participation
Auditioned, selected, and participated in school-district ensemble, All-County, All-District/Region Ensemble, All-State Ensemble, or National Honor Ensemble.
Participated as a soloist, duet, trio, or quartet performing a grade 2 or higher composition and received a rating of “Excellent” or "Superior." If a competition, placed in the top 20% of participants.
Basic Extracurricular Activities
Participation in at least two of the following activities within the past fourteen months:
Each of these counts as ONE activity
Attend three or more high school or college concerts or a marching band contest (High school or college football with marching band performing does not count)
Attend two or more musical theater productions at one of your town's theaters or at a high school or college production
Attend a civic or professional orchestra performance
Attend a civic band performance
Attend a half-day middle school, high school, or college Master Class
Attend a professional or collegiate recital of applicant's instrument (or family of instruments)
Watch at least two of the professional orchestra, symphony, operatic performances or movies/Broadway shows from the lists below
Participate in your school district/town middle school orchestra or civic band
Take four or more forty-five-minute private lessons
Attend a weekend invitational band, orchestra, or choral clinic
Attend at least one week of a summer music camp
Movies Based on Broadway Shows
Movies About Instrumentalists and Conductors
Movies About Instrumentalists and Conductos
Additional Resources
Demonstration of Interpretive Performance Abilities
Document in video format a performance of a grade 2 solo (can be unaccompanied) from the applicant's state music association's approved list.
All applicants are required to record an audition video which includes the content outlined below:
Each performance segment must be recorded in one take with no editing, though you may and should select the best of several takes.
Professional equipment and/or studio space is not necessary. With attention to a few details, your musical talent can be conveyed using readily available consumer electronics; even iPhone or other smartphone recordings are acceptable.
Please refer to the following article for additional information and suggestions for effectively recording your audition:
“7 Steps in Making a Great Audition Video”
Before you record your first musical selection, please include a spoken introduction in which you state your name, instrument, hometown, and state. Then announce the title of the song and composer and/or arranger before you begin the performance for each required tune/style/excerpt.
Demonstration of Scales for Instrumentalists
Violin
G and A major, 3 octaves
G and A melodic minor, 3 octaves
Viola
C and D major, 3 octaves
C and D melodic minor, 3 octaves
Cello
C and D major, 3 octaves
C and D melodic minor, 3 octaves
Bass
F and G major, 3 octaves
F and G melodic minor, 3 octaves
Tonal Memory and Pitch Accuracy
Document in video format a singing performance (unaccompanied) of the following tonal memory exercises on the movable Do system (where "Do" is always the tonic/tonal center):
1. Do, Re, Mi, Re, Do, Re, Do
2. Do, Mi, Re, Do, Do, Mi, Re, Do, Do, Re, Do
3. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, Fa, Mi, Re, Do, Do, Re, Do
4. Do, Re, Mi, So, Fa, Mi, Re, Do, Do, Mi, Re, Do, Re, Do
5. Do, So, Fa, Mi, So, Mi, Re, Do, So, Mi, Do, Do, Re, Do
You may perform each exercise with a rhythm pattern of your choice. You may perform each of these tonal memory exercises using Kodaly hand signs.
Click here for more information on solfege
Demonstration of Musical Knowledge
Demonstrate knowledge of 60 basic musical terms.
The original 25 terms under "Junior Letter" are included. Thus, this is an additional 35 terms to be learned.
Click here for Music Terms study guide
Demonstrate knowledge of the musical alphabet for both clefs and of the flats in order and the sharps in order.
Click here for Music Theory study guide
Knowledge will be tested in a ten-question assessment in the application process. You will have three chances to achieve the required perfect score.
Expressive Presentation
Write an essay up to 450 words on the topic "The Role that Band or Orchestra Plays in My Life" in the space provided.
Personal and Musical Reference
No Reference Required
National Scholastic Junior Orchestra All Star Musician Benefits
Written Feedback on Solo
Official Certificate and Star Patch
Name, Instrument, School, City, State, and student's director's name listed on website NationalScholasticJuniorMusiciansAwards.com. (Example, Imani Jenkins, Cello, Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago, Illinois: Lucy Anne Davenport, Orchestra Director)
Press release sent to hometown newspaper and social media outlets
Opportunity to purchase uniform medal
Opportunity to purchase official award displaying merchandise
Five-month free subscription to https://www.Accoladi.com